Lamp holder



May 11, 1948. THAYER 2,441,456

mar HOLDER Fmqum. 22, 1945 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig]. 7

F5 I Fl 2 s 6 a 2 R WNW r no a r aye,

b WW6 AMA His Attorney.

R. N.THAY ER mar HOLDER May 11, 1948.

Filed Jan. 22, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Fig.6.

w, ..m w r n m n /m (n. vm A n a M s I n .l:

m n Y rammed M... 11, 1948 LAMP HOLDER 7 Richard N. Thayencleveland Heights, out, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application January 22, 1945, Serial No. 573,836

7 Claims. (Cl. 173-328) The present invention relates to lamp holders and especially to lamp holders for tubular lamps, such as fluorescent lamps. It is especially useful in connection with tubular lamps requiring relatively high open circuit voltages, for example voltages of the order of 600 volts or higher, although it is not limited thereto,

One object of my invention is to provide an improved lamp holder which while ailording a high degree of safety from an electrical standpoint'is simple in structure, has a shallow socket depth, is neat in appearance, capable of being manufactured at low cost, and permits of the use of a simple lamp base structure.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction wherein the lamp ends are locked in the lamp holder so the lamp cannot accidentally fall from the holders.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully from the following specification.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following specification and to the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a side elevation of a tubular lamp mounted in holders embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through one of the lamp holders shown in Fig. 1, a. lamp end being in position in the holder; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line -3- -3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 showing the position of parts before a lamp end is mounted therein; Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the lamp holder and an adjacent lamp end, and Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic wiring diagram.

According to my invention, I provide a lamp holder having contact means with which the lamp terminal contact means at a lamp end engages when the lamp end is positioned in the holder and in connection therewith, I provide a key or locking member which controls the lamp circuit and which must be removed or unlocked to permit removal or insertion of a lamp, and which when removed or unlockedopens the lamp circuit. Preferably also the arrangement is such that the key or looking member can be placed in position in the lamp holder to close the lamp circuit only when a lamp end is therein, thus insuring that the circuit to the la p holder contact means will be energized on y when a lamp is in position in the lamp holder. Lamps of the tubular type having operating voltages above 60 are commonly operated from transformers, the

transformer having separate primary and secondary windings or being of the autotransformer type. Preferably, I arrange the circuits so that a key or looking member controls the primary transformer circuit and such circuit preferably includes the lamp holders at each end of the lamp. However, in the case of an autotransformer, the circuit need include only the lamp holder at one end of the lamp, in which case the key or looking member at the other lamp end serves only to lock the lamp into position and not to control the circuit.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a tubular lamp which may be a lamp of the fluorescent type. In the present instance it is shown as being a type of tubular lamp adapted for cold starting. Accordingly, at each end it is provided with only a single terminal or contact means 2. In the present instance, the terminal or contact means is shown as being in the form of a screw shell of suitable metallic material. However, my invention is not limited necessarily to use with lamps of this type, it being well adapted for use with lamps having two terminals at each end which adapts them for hot cathode starting. Tubular lamp l is shown as being mounted in two lamp holders 3 and 4 mounted on a suitable support 5 by means of screws 6. The ballast for the lamp is indicated at I.

Each lamp holder comprises walls 8 which define a housing closed at one end by an end wall 9 and open at the other end as indicated at l0. Mounted on wall 9 is a U-shaped contact clip ll adapted to receive between its arms the terminal 2 of a lamp end. Contact clip H is attached to wall 9 by a suitable rivet l2 into which is threaded a binding screw I3 for attaching a circuit wire to the contact clip. The open end of the clip faces toward the open end ill of the housing so that a lamp end may be readily positioned in the housing between the two arms of the contact clip. This is shown clearly in Fig. 2.

For closing the open end ill of the casing, I provide what I term a key or locking member M which in the present instance is in the form of a block of insulating material shaped to provide grooves I I5 adapted to slide over projections ii on walls 8 adjacent opening Ill, although it may take other forms. The key or looking member carries a circuit closing member adapted to span a pair of contacts positioned in the lamp socket housing. The pair of contacts may be located in any suitable way in the housing, the essential thing being that when the key or looklng member is positioned to close opening ill, the

the form of a pair of contacts located on opposite sides of the casing, the key'or locking member carrying a. suitable connector for spanning the contacts. In the present instance, I have elected to illustrate the lattenarrangement. To this end two contact arms l1 and iii are shown positioned along opposite side walls of the casing with their ends terminating adjacent to projections l6 and the key or locking member I is provided with a transversely extending connecting member is which, when the key or looking member is positioned over the opening, connects together the contact arms I1 and I8. Contact arms l1 and it are attached to wall 9 by means of rivets into which thread screws II. for attaching circuit wires to the contacts.

In use of the invention the two lamp holders 3 and l are mounted on the support I a distance apart to receive atubular lamp between them. When a lamp is to be positioned in the holders. the keys or locking members 14 are removed and the lamp positioned in the lamp holders, terminals 2 being positioned between the arms of the U-shaped contact. clips ll. After the lamp is positioned in the holders, the keys or looking members ll are slid into place, projections i6 being positioned in the grooves i5. When a ke or locking member is in place, its connecting member i9 connects together the contact arms I! and i 8 as is shown in Fig. 2.

As 'is best shown in Fig.5. the one wall of the housing is cut' away as is indicated at 22 to form a space to receive the lamp end. This may be considered the front wall of the casing. The back wall of the casing forms a stop for the key or locking member H. the arrangement being such that when it is pushed into engagement with the back wall, connecting member l9 connects the two contact strips I1 and I8, Preferably, the arrangement is such that when a lamp end is not positioned in a holder, the contact means in the holder with which the lamp end engages stands in a position such that the key or locking member cannot be inserted into contact spanning position. As is shown clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, the arms of the U-shaped contact clip il stand in the way of the insertion of the key or locking member It. This is indicated by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 4 which indicate the outline of the key or locking member l4. When a lamp is inserted in the lamp holder, the arms of contact clip I I are moved to the positions shown in Fig. 2 wherein it will be seen their ends are out of the path of movement of the key or locking member ll so that the key or locking member may be pushed into position.

One wiring arrangement for a pair of sockets is indicated in Fig. 6. The primary winding 23 of the transformer is connected to the source of power indicated at 24 through the contact arms I! and I8 of the two lamp holdersand the secondary 25 of the transformer is connected to the contact clips ll of the lamp holders. In the case of an autotransiormer, as pointed out above, the primary circuit need include the contact arms I I and i8 of only one of the lamp holders in which case the contact arms of the other lamp holder will perform no function.

It will be seen that the keys or locking members it serve to close the primary circuit for the lamp and also to lock the lamp in position in the holders so that it cannot fall out. To remove a lamp from the holders. it is first necessary to remove the keys or locking members I4 which means that the circuit is opened on the clips ii before the lamp can be removed. and after the lamp is removed the clips remain disconnected from the circuit and can be again connected to the circuit only by first inserting a lamp end into the lamp holder and then positioning the key or locking member.

The key or looking member I4 is shaped to provide a curved surface as shown best in Figs. 2 and 5 which fits against the lamp to hold it firmly and positively in position in the lamp holders so it cannot vibrate andcannot work loose and fall.

If desired, the key or locking member l4 may be attached to the holder by means of a suitable chain or it may be hinged to the holder to prevent loss or misplacement of the key or locking member.

. In accordance with statutes, 1 have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United States is:

1. A lamp holder for a tubular lamp having contact means at its ends comprising walls which define a casing having an open end, contact means ln the casing adapted to be engaged by lam end contact means when positioned in the casing through said end. a lamp circuit closing contact means in said casing, a member for closing said open end, said member being keyed to interlock with the end of the casing and thereby lock the lamp end in the holder, and said member having means adapted to co-act with said lamp circuit closing contact means for closing the lamp circuit when said member is positioned to close said opened end. said first contact means being spring tensioned and adapted, when a lamp end is not positioned in the casing, to occup a space therein normally occupied by said member and therelg: to prevent positioning of said end closing mem- 2. A lamp holder for a tubular lam having 7 contact means at its ends comprising walls which means in the casing adapted to be engaged by lamp end contact means when positioned in the casing through said open end, a lamp circuit closing contact means in said casing, a member for closing said open end, said member being keyed to interlock with the end of the casing and thereby lock the lamp end in the holder. and said member having means adapted to co-act with said lamp circuit. closing contact means for closing the lamp circuit when said member is positioned to close said opened end, and means including said first contact means for preventing positioning said end closing member in the casing except when a lamp end is positioned in the casing.

3. A lamp holder for the end of a tubular lamp comprising a casing having an opening through which a lamp end may be positioned in the holdthe provisions of the patent er. a cover for the opening for locking the lamp end in the holder; contact means controlled by the positioning of the cover in closed position for closing a circuit to a lamp end contact, and means preventing positioning of the cover on the casing except when a lamp end is positioned in the casing.

4. A lamp holder for a tubular lamp having contact means at its ends comprising a casing having an open end, a U-shaped contact clip in the casing, the open end or which faces the open end of the casing, a side wall of the casing ad- Jacent to its open end being shaped to define a recess whereby a lamp end may be positioned in the casing, normally open contact means in the casing, and a member mounted on and closing the open end 01' the casing, said member being keyed to interlock, with the casing and thereby being adapted to lock a lamp end therein and said member having means adapted to co-act with said normally open contact means for closing the same, said U-shaped contact clips being spring tensioned and adapted, when a lamp is not in the casing. to occupy a space therein normally occupied by said member and thereby to prevent mounting of the open end closing member.

5. A lamp holder for a tubular lamp having contacts at its ends comprising, in combination, a casing having an open end for receiving the lamp contact, a contact means in the casing for engaging and making electrical connection with the lamp contact, normally open contact elements in the casing and a member mounted on said casing and being provided with conducting means for engaging the normally open contact elements to close a circuit therethrcugh, said member closing the open end of the casing and being keyed to interlock therewith and thereby to look a lamp therein when the member is mounted on the casing, said first-mentioned contact means being spring tensioned and adapted, when a lamp end is not positioned in the casing, to occupy a space therein normally occupied by said member and thereby to prevent mounting of the member on the casing unless a lamp is first positioned in the holder.

6. A lamp holder for a tubular lamp comprising, in combination, a casing having a recess extending to an end wall of the casing to form an open end. contact means in said recess for receiving a lamp contact, spaced contact members carried by the housing in said recess and being normally in open circuit position, and a member of insulating material having a conducting member for engaging said contact members to close a circuit therethrough, said member being slidably mounted on-said casing to close the open end thereof after mounting of the lamp to hold the lamp and being keyed to interlock with the casing in position.

7. A lamp holder for the end of a tubular lamp comprising a casing having an opening through which a lamp end may be positioned in the holder, a cover for the opening for locking the lamp end in the holder, contact means controlled by the positioning of the cover in closed P sition for closing a circuit to a lamp end contact and means adapted, when a lamp end is not positioned in the casing, to occupy aspace occupied by the ,cover in closed position and said means bein adapted to be actuated by a lamp end to move out of said space whereby said means prevents positioning of the cover on the casing except when a lamp end is positioned in the casing.

RICHARD M. THAYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,677,692 Stokes July 17, 1928 ,8 7,486 Hester Aug. 4, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 111,184 Australia July 31, 1940 460,984 Germ-any June 11, 1928 486,399 Great Britain June 2, 1938 526,123 Great Britain Sept. 11, 1940 547,705 Germany Apr. 6, 1932 

